European Union nations’ energy ministers have agreed a gas price cap, a spokesperson for the Czech Republic said on Twitter on Monday. First reaction from Russia: “Unacceptable!”
The deal follows weeks of talks on the emergency measure that has split opinion across the bloc as it seeks to tame the energy crisis.The Czech Republic holds the EU’s rotating presidency and chaired the negotiations.
According to officials and a document seen by Reuters, European Union countries’ energy ministers agreed that the cap on gas prices would be triggered when benchmark gas prices spike to 180 euros per megawatt hour.
The EU gas price cap would kick in if prices on the front-month Dutch Title Transfer Facility gas hub contract exceed 180 euro/MWh for three days, the document detailing EU ministers’ agreement showed.
The cap can be triggered from February 15 onwards, and will not apply to over the counter trades initially, the document said.
Three EU officials said that Germany – which had been skeptical about the price cap – had voted to support a European Union deal on a gas price cap on Monday, despite having raised concerns about the policy’s impact on Europe’s ability to attract gas supplies in price-competitive global markets.
Germany and other countries skeptical of the cap had sought more safeguards to ensure that it would be suspended if the policy has negative consequences. [Reuters]
PS No idea how the price cap will benefit the consumer, us, normal citizens, but they know better.
This is going to be interesting. Russia said it will not provide oil and gas to countries that impose a price cap. Qatar has bribed MEPs and possibly also other EU officials and Qatar has said that investigating this further and making accusations against Qatar could put the EU’s gas deal with Qatar under pressure.
So, let’s see what will happen to that corruption investigation.
Consumers will be rest assured (not) that the price cap will not hurt EU or national officials but it will hurt the ordinary consumers.